We use cookies to improve our site and your experience. By continuing to browse our site you accept our cookie policy
We use cookies to improve our site and your experience. By continuing to browse our site you accept our cookie policy
The classic test of speed and power
In Flatwater Racing sprint events, paddlers race on a straight course, each boat in a separate lane, over three different distances : 200 m, 500 m and 1000 m. In a kayak, the paddler is seated and uses a two-blade paddle, while in a canoe, the paddler is kneeling on one knee, and uses a single blade paddle. There are kayak events, for men and women, in single (K1), double (K2) and four boats (K4), and canoe events for men in single (C1), double (C2) and four boats (C4) and recently also for women.
This form of racing became an Olympic discipline in 1936 and its programme includes events over 200 m and 1000 m for men and 200 m and 500 m for women.
Except of sprint categories canoeists race also in long distances. At World Championships and European Championships these are 5000 m, only single boats are used. Long distances are also very popular for mass competitions, e.g. Sella Descent in Spain.
The first European champions of the 2026 Paddle Europe Junior and Under 23 Sprint Championships were crowned on Saturday as ten 1000meters Final A races opened the medal Program in Szeged.
The opening title session immediately produced history: a new European Best Time, Türkiye’s first individual medal at these championships, a third consecutive title for Czechia’s Adam Rudolf and Great Britain’s return to the men’s podium after seven years.
Four of the ten races were won by AIN-A or AIN-B. As these delegations are not included as countries in the National Federation medal table, six gold medals count towards the official country ranking after the first finals day.
Paddle Europe is pleased to welcome Hungarian boat manufacturer HODY as its newest official partner, further strengthening its network of companies committed to the development and future of paddle sport across Europe.
Read more
The 2026 ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships reach their final day in Oklahoma City, United States, with the Men’s and Women’s Kayak Cross titles set to bring six days of competition to a close.
Ten of the 12 world titles on the program have already been decided across Kayak Cross Individual, Canoe Slalom, Kayak Slalom and the four team events.
European athletes and nations have dominated the championships so far, winning 26 of the 30 medals awarded. Europe has claimed seven gold, nine silver and all ten bronze medals, representing 86.7 per cent of the available podium positions.
© 2021 ECA
